This is the safest seat on a plane, according to safety experts

The tragic crash of an Air India Boeing 787 bound for London on June 12, 2025 , shocked the world. The plane, which took off at 1:39 p.m. local time, crashed minutes later into a building of the BJ Medical College, in a residential area. The accident claimed the lives of at least 265 people , including 242 passengers and crew members, as well as 24 students on the ground , according to the latest provisional report.

Flying remains one of the safest means of transportation

This incident, one of the deadliest in recent years, is a stark reminder that air crashes still exist. In this context, a question often arises among anxious passengers: is there a safer seat on board an airplane?

Despite the emotions aroused by such a tragedy, the data is clear: the risk of dying in a plane crash remains extremely low . According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) , the probability is approximately 1 in 11 million . Another important figure: there are survivors in more than 95% of accidents .

The back of the device would be more secure

A 2015 Time Magazine article, based on 35 years of National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) data, found that passengers seated in the rear of the plane had a 32% fatality rate, compared to 39% in the middle and 38% in the front . These figures suggest that the last rows may offer a slight statistical advantage in the event of a crash. The study also found that, within the same row at the rear of the plane, the middle seats had the lowest fatality risk (28%).

Aside from your seat on the plane, the aircraft's design can play a role. The wings , for example, are among the most reinforced areas of the fuselage, designed to absorb some of the shock. Additionally, the proximity of emergency exits can be seen as a crucial advantage: it significantly increases the chances of a quick evacuation in the event of a fire or a hard landing. This can make all the difference in the first few minutes following a crash.

In an emergency situation, how passengers react can influence their chances of survival. That's why it's essential to take a few seconds, upon boarding, to locate the nearest emergency exits and read the safety instructions provided on board. These reminders, often ignored out of weariness, were designed specifically to help each passenger adopt the right reflexes when the time comes.

As you can see, no seat guarantees survival in the event of an accident , although certain areas of the plane seem, statistically, to offer a slight advantage. The chances of surviving - or not - a plane crash are based on factors far more complex than the seat chosen: type of crash, speed, angle of impact, nature of the terrain...